| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立陽明大學 === 環境與職業衛生研究所 === 102 === Background/Objectives: Heavy metals frequently emitted by the municipal waste incineration system (MWIs) are continuously concerned from Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) and residents living near incinerator. The objective of this study was to assess the association between the metal levels in urine and nails with N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), which is a suitable indicator of nephrotoxicity among residents living near the incinerator.
Materials and methods: Exposed group was selected from three schools children and parents living nearby the incinerator. The control group was chosen as ten miles away from the incinerator. Each participant was interviewed using a structured questionnaire, including basic demographic information, indoor sources and respiratory symptoms. There were 306 people recruited into this study. Urine and nails concentration in nine elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Se and Zn) were quantified by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Urinary NAG levels used an indicators of renal function were measured by spectrophotometer.
Results: There were significant differences on schoolchildren age, single parent, residence type, smoking habits and history of heart disease. The mean heavy metals levels in nails (0.71 ± 0.26 μg/g Cu, 0.13 ± 0.27 μg/g Ni, 1.77±2.71 μg/g Se, 2.31±1.29 μg/g Zn, p<0.05) among children in the exposed group were significantly higher than in the control group. Average urinary arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, selenium and zinc levels among schoolchildren and urinary copper and zinc levels among parents were significantly correlated with urinary NAG levels (p<0.01) . In nail, selenium levels among schoolchildren and cadmium levels among parents were significant correlated with urinary NAG levels (p<0.05) . Urinary selenium and zinc levels（μg/g creatinine）in children and parents would affect their urinary NAG levels significantly (p<0.05) .
Conclusions and Suggestion: Based on our findings in urinary and nails metals were higher in the exposed group, and the urinary and nails metals among schoolchildren and parents were significantly correlated with urinary NAG levels. It is vital to eliminate various hazardous metals emitted from incinerator or other resources by Environmental Protection Administration to prevent the adverse health effects among residents living near incinerator.
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